3 tips for Livin' La Vida Tranquilista for women wishing to establish mindful money management
1. Dig Deep Into Your Financial Feelings
A great use of our feminine energy is participating in girl chats so why not invite friends over who can bond with you over this financial freedom questionnaire.
Ask yourself some questions to uncover some of the emotions behind your relationship to money:
- How did you feel growing up about money?
- Did you earn an allowance? If so, what did you do with your money?
- Are you a saver, spender, or somewhere in between?
- Was money discussed openly in your family growing up?
- Did you feel financially in sync with your friends?
2. Curb Retail Therapy Debt and Impulse Buying
I know it's tough for the modern girl to maintain financial balance with so many temptations, but this is where your tapas and brahmacharya (one of the 8 limbs of yoga that means self-control) will come in handy.
Maybe you find yourself blowing your annual clothing budget during the postholiday sales in January, or you're a bibliophile who can't say no to the latest Oprah book-club selection.
Sure, buying a home or investing in your education will set you back numerous years, but they're more important than that leopard-print stole with pink satin ribbons. Keep in mind the concept of short-term delayed gratification for long-term benefit.
TRANQUIL TIP -- Stretch your dollars by shopping at discount stores, buying bulk classes at the yoga studio, and joining girlfriends for drinks and dessert instead of dinner.
3. Create Financial Fantasies
Every good financial fantasy has 3 key parts:
- ENVISION: What's your ideal big picture in financial fulfillment?? Do you want to be able to care for a loved one without fear of going bankrupt? Do you want the ability to work from home while your children play nearby? Or do you want to be both a city and country mouse dividing your time between two very different places that entice you? Get clear on what constitutes financial freedom for you.
- DEFINE: Get clear about what it is that will bring you more in touch with your values while also helping others. Remember that ultimately abundance for you means more for others because you can do a lot more with abundance. Write out your ideal as if it were the present. For example, "I am finishing my novel in a cabin I own in Vail, and living part time in a rented loft in Denver teaching writing classes."
- GET SUPPORT: Once you have gotten clear on what financial freedcom looks like, share your findings with a trusted companion who will support your dreams. And support yourself and your belief in your dream by carving out weekly reflection time to review your income and expenses, while keeping an eye on the ultimate goal.
About Kimberly Wilson:
Kimberly Wilson is a teacher, writer, do-gooder, entrepreneur, and ecofashion designer. She is the creative director and founder of Tranquil Space, named among the top twenty-five yoga studios in the world by Travel & Leisure, with 3 locations in the Washington D.C. area.
When not bookstore browsing, you'll find her sipping heaps of tea, leading yoga retreats around the world, or crafting new designs for TranquiliT (her sustainable, organic, made-in-the-USA clothing line, stylishly suitable for yoga, soirees, and travel). Her work has been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio, in Daily Candy, Fit Yoga, US News and various books.
She is the founder of the non-profit, www.tranquilspacefoundation.org, which expands opportunities for girls and women to develop their inner voice through yoga, creativity, and leadership activities.
She holds a master's degree in women's studies and lives in Washington D.C. with two fancy felines named after French impressionists, a supportive beau, and a sassy black pug. Indulge in musings on tranquilology through her blog and podcast, Tranquility du Jour. Learn more at kimberlywilson.com.
For more information, go to kimberlywilson.com
>> Buy this book on Amazon: Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play
About The Art of Feminine Financial Finesse:
Gloria Steinhem had feminine financial finesse when she said, "We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs." "Feminine Financial Finesse allows you to have more of a powerful and promising effect on the world by putting your feminine energy and debit card where your values lie.
There is a belief prevalent in America and other Western countries that being successful, making money, is somehow wrong for people who are trying to lead a spiritual life. However, it is not the money which is itself wrong; in fact, a person with greater resources can do much more good in the world than without.
Embrace this statment, girls," "It's time to take control of your finances and use your money to support a greater good--which may also include the purchase of a new pair of pink Chanel slides."
